What the Law says about Transporting Boats

What the Law says about Transporting Boats (UK Only)

Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: The following is an abridged extractfrom the Act. The parts of the Act reproduced are complete and verbatim, but noliability will be taken for future amendments to the Act being included, orpeople using this text in their defence. Although it has been checked foraccuracy, I have included only those bits relevant to the towing/roofing ofboats, and thus it cannot represent the full letter of the law.

For the full act, see Stone's Justices ManualVol. 3 (p6564)

Go here for the summary table ofrequirements for different overhangs.

Definitions

Overhang - the distance measured horizontally and parallel to thelongitudinal axis of a vehicle between two transverse points passing throughthe following two points -
  1. the rearmost point of the vehicle exclusive of -
    1. any expanding or extendible contrivance forming part of a turntable fire escape fixed to a vehicle;
    2. in the case of a motor car constructed solely for the carriage of passengers and their effects and adapted to carry not more than eight passengers exclusive of the driver, any luggage carrier fitted to the vehicle; and
    1. in the case of a motor vehicle having not more than three axles of which only one is not a steering axle, the centre point of that axle;
    2. in the case of a motor vehicle having three axles of which the front axle is the only steering axle and of a motor vehicle having four axles of which the two foremost are the only steering axles, a point 110mm behind the centre of a straight line joining the centre points of the two rearmost axles; and
    3. in any other case a point situated on the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and such that a line drawn from it at right angles to that axis will pass through the centre of the minimum turning circle of the vehicle.

B - DIMENSIONS OF LADEN VEHICLES

Restrictions on use of vehicles carrying wide or long loads or having fixedappliances or apparatus

8-3591 81. For the purposes of this regulation, regulation 82and Schedule 12 -

  1. "lateral projection", in relation to a load carried by a vehicle, means that part of the load which extends beyond a side of the vehicle;
  2. the width of any lateral projection shall be measured between longitudinal planes passing through the extreme projecting point of the vehicle on that side on which the projection lies and that part of the projection furthest from that point;
  3. references to a special appliance or apparatus, in relation to a vehicle, are references to any crane or other special appliance or apparatus fitted to the vehicle which is a permanent or essentially permanent fixture;
  4. "forward projection" and "rearward projection" -
    1. in relation to a load carried in such a manner that its weight is borne by only one vehicle, mean respectively that part of the load which extends beyond the foremost point of the vehicle and that part which extends beyond the rearmost point of the vehicle;
    2. in relation to a load carried in such a manner that part of its weight is borne by more than one vehicle, mean respectively that part of the load which extends beyond the foremost point of the foremost vehicle by which the load is carried except where the context otherwise requires and that part of the load which extends beyond the rearmost point of the rearmost vehicles by which the load is carried; and
    3. in relation to any special appliance or apparatus, mean respectively that part of the appliance or apparatus which, if it were deemed to be a load carried by the vehicle, would be a part of a load extending beyond the foremost point of the vehicle and that part which would be a part of a load extending beyond the rearmost point of the vehicle,
    and references in regulation 82 and Schedule 12 to a forward projection or to arearward projection in relation to a vehicle shall be construed accordingly;
  5. the length of any forward projection or of any rearward projection shall be measured between transverse planes passing -
    1. in the case of a forward projection, through the foremost point of the vehicle and that part of the projection furthest from that point; and
    2. in the case of a rearward projection, through the rearmost point of the vehicle and that part of the projection furthest from that point.
    In this and the foregoing sub-paragraph "vehicle" does not include any specialappliance or apparatus or any part thereof which is a forward projection or arearward projection;
  6. references to the distance between vehicles, in relation to vehicles carrying a load, are references to the distance between the nearest points of any two adjacent vehicles by which the load is carried, measured when the longitudinal axis of each vehicle lies in the same vertical plane.
    For the purposes of this sub-paragraph, in determining the nearest point of twovehicles any part of either vehicle designed primarily for use as a means ofattaching the one vehicle to the other and any fitting designed for use inconnection with any such part shall be disregarded;
  7. references to a combination of vehicles, in relation to a motor vehicle which is drawing one or more trailers, are references to the motor vehicle and the trailer or trailers drawn thereby, including any other motor vehicle which is used for the purpose of assisting in the propulsion of the trailer or the trailers on the road;
  8. the overall length of a combination of vehicles shall be taken as the distance between the foremost point of the drawing vehicle comprised in the combination and the rearmost point of the rearmost vehicle comprised therein, measured when the longitudinal axis of each vehicle comprised in the combination lies in the same vertical plane;
  9. the extreme projecting point of a vehicle is the point from which the overall width of the vehicle is calculated in accordance with the definition of overall width contained in regulation 3(2);
  10. without prejudice to sub-paragraph (e) the foremost or, as the case may be, the rearmost point of a vehicle is the foremost or rearmost point from which the overall length of the vehicle is calculated in accordance with the definition of overall length contained in regulation 3(2); and
  11. an agricultural, horticultural or forestry implement rigidly but not permanently mounted on an agricultural motor vehicle, agricultural trailer or agricultural trailed appliance, whether or not part of it's weight is supported by one or more of it's own wheels, shall not be treated as a load, or special appliance, on that vehicle.

8-3592 82. -

  1. No load shall be carried on a vehicle so that the overall width of the vehicle together with the width of any lateral projection or projections of its load exceeds 4.3m.
  2. Subject to the following provisions of this regulation, no load shall be carried on a vehicle so that -
    1. the load has a lateral projection or projections on either side exceeding 305mm; or
    2. the overall width of the vehicle and of any lateral projection or projections of its load exceeds 2.9m
    Provided that this paragraph does not apply to the carriage of -
      1. loose agricultural produce not baled or crated; or
      2. an indivisible load if -
        1. it is not reasonably practicable to comply with this paragraph and the conditions specified in paragraphs 1 and 5 of Schedule 12 are complied with; and
        2. where the overall width of the vehicle together with the width of any lateral projection or projections of its load exceeds 3.5m, the conditions specified in paragraph 2 of Schedule 12 are complied with.
  3. Where a load is carried so that its weight rests on a vehicle or vehicles, the length specified in paragraph (5) shall not exceed 27.4m.
  4. A load shall not be carried so that its weight is borne by a vehicle or vehicles if either -
    1. the length specified in paragraph (5) exceeds 18.65m; or
    2. the load is borne by a trailer or trailers and the length specified in paragraph (6) exceeds 25.9m,
    unless the conditions specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12are complied with.
  5. The length referred to in paragraphs (3) and (4)(a) is -
    1. where the weight of the load is borne by a single vehicle, the overall length of the vehicle together with the length of any forward and rearward projection of the load;
    2. where the weight of the load is borne by a motor vehicle and one trailer, whether or not forming an articulated vehicle, the overall length of the trailer together with the length of any projection of the load in front of the foremost point of the trailer and of any rearward projection of the load; and
    3. in any other case, the overall length of all the vehicles which bears the weight of the load, together with the length of any distance between them and of any forward or rearward projection of the load.
  6. The length referred to in paragraph (4)(b) is the overall length of the combination of vehicles, together with the length of any forward or rearward projection of the load.
  7. Subject to the following provisions of this regulation no person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road, a vehicle, not being a straddle carrier, carrying a load or fitted with a special appliance or apparatus if the load, appliance or apparatus has a forward projection of a length specified in an item in column 2 of the Table, or rearward projection of a length specified in an item in column 3, unless the conditions specified in that item in column 4 are complied with.

TABLE
(Regulation 82(7))

12 34
ItemLength of forward projection Length of rearward projection Conditions to be complied with



 (a) if the load consists of a racing boat propelled solely by oars (b) in any other case
1>1m and <=2m- Para 4 of Schedule 12-
2>2m and <=3.05m- Para 4 of Schedule 12Paras 2 and 3 of Schedule 12
3>3.05m- Paras 1 and 4 of Schedule 12Paras 1, 2 and 3 of Schedule 12
4->1m and <=2m Para 4 of Schedule 12Para 4 of Schedule 12
5->2m and <=3.05m Para 4 of Schedule 12Para 3 of Schedule 12
6->3.05m Paras 1 and 4 of Schedule 12Paras 1, 2 and 3 of Schedule 12

  1. Subject to the following provisions of this regulation, no person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road a straddle carrier carrying a load if -
    1. the load has a rearward projection exceeding 1m unless the conditions specified in paragraph 4 of Schedule 12 are met;
    2. the load has a forward projection exceeding 2m or a rearward projection exceeding 3m; or
    3. the overall length of the vehicle together with the length of any forward projection and of any rearward projection of its load exceeds 12.2m
      Provided that -
      1. sub-paragraph (a) does not apply to a vehicle being used in passing from one part of private premises to another part thereof or to other private premises in the immediate neighbourhood;
      2. sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) do not apply to a vehicle being used as in proviso (i) above if -
        1. the vehicle is not being driven at a speed exceeding 12mph; and
        2. where the overall length of the vehicle together with the length of any forward projection and of any rearward projection of its loads exceeds 12.2m, the conditions specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12 are complied with.

8-3687

SCHEDULE 12 (see regulations 81 and 82)

CONDITIONS TO BE COMPLIED WITH IN RELATION TO THEUSE OF VEHICLES CARRYING WIDE OR LONG LOADS OR VEHICLES CARRYING LOADSOR HAVING APPLIANCES OR APPARATUS WHICH PROJECT

PART 1
Advance notice to Police

    1. Before using on a road a vehicle or vehicles to which this paragraph applies, the owner shall give notice of the intended use to the Chief Officer of Police for any area in which he proposes to use the vehicle or vehicles. The notice shall be given so that it is received by the date after which there are at least two working days before the date on which the use of the vehicle or vehicles is to begin, and shall include the following details -
      1. time, data and route of the proposed journey, and
      2. (actually ia) in a case to which regulation 7(9) applies, the overall length of the trailer,
      3. in a case to which regulation 82(2) applies, the overall length and width of the vehicle by which the load is carried and the lateral projection or projections of its load,
      4. in a case to which regulation 82(4)(a) applies, the overall length and width of each vehicle by which the load is carried, the length of any forward or rearward projection and, where the load rests on more than one vehicle, the distance between the vehicles,
      5. in a case to which regulation 82(4)(b) applies, the overall length of the combination of vehicles and the length of any forward or rearward projection of the load, and
      6. in a case to which regulation 82(7) and (8) applies, the overall length of the vehicle and the length of any forward or rearward projection of the load or special appliance or apparatus.
      The Chief Officer of Police for any police area may, at his discretion, accept ashorter period of notice or fewer details.
    2. The vehicle of vehicles shall be used only in accordance with the details at(a) subject to any variation in the time, date or route which may be directed by -
      1. any such Chief Officer of Police to the owner of the vehicle or vehicles, or
      2. a police constable to the driver in the interests of road safety or in order to avoid undue traffic congestion by halting the vehicle or vehicles in a place on or adjacent to the road on which the vehicle or vehicles are travelling.
    3. In this paragraph -
      1. "Chief Officer of Police" has, in relation to England and Wales, the same meaning as in the Police Act 1964, and in relation to Scotland, the same meaning as in the Police (Scotland) Act 1967.
      2. "working day" means a day which is not a Sunday, a bank holiday, Christmas Day or Good Friday, and
      3. "bank holiday" means a day which is a bank holiday by or under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 either generally or in the locality in which the road is situated.

    Attendants

  2. At least one person in addition to the person or persons employed in driving a motor vehicle to which this paragraph applies shall be employed -
    1. in attending to that vehicle and its load and any other vehicle or vehicles drawn by that vehicle and the load or loads carried on the vehicle or vehicles so drawn, and
    2. to give warning to the driver of the said motor vehicle and to any person of any danger likely to be caused to any such other person by reason of the presence of the said vehicle or vehicles on the road.
    Provided that, where three or more vehicles as respects which the conditions inthis paragraph are applicable are travelling together in convoy, it shall be asufficient compliance with this paragraph if only the foremost and rearmostvehicles in the convoy are attended in the manner prescribed in thisparagraph.
    For the purposes of this paragraph when a motor vehicle is drawing a trailer ortrailers -
    1. any person employed in pursuance of section 34 of the 1972 Act in attending that vehicle or any such trailer shall be treated as being an attendant required by this paragraph so long as he is also employed to discharge the duties mentioned in this paragraph; and
    2. when another motor vehicle is used for the purpose of assisting in their propulsion on the road, the person or persons employed in driving that other motor vehicle shall not be treated as a person or persons employed in attending to the first-mentioned vehicle or any vehicle or vehicles drawn thereby.

    Marking of longer projections

    1. Every forward and rearward projection to which this paragraph applies shall be fitted with -
      1. an end marker, except in the case of a rearward projection which is fitted with a rear marking in accordance with the Lighting Regulations, and
      2. where required by sub-paragraphs (c) and (d) of this paragraph, two or more side markers;
      which shall be of the size, shape and colour described in Part II of thisSchedule.
    2. the end marker shall be so fitted that -
      1. it is as near as practicable in a transverse plane,
      2. it is not more than 0.5m from the extreme end of the projection,
      3. the vertical distance between the lowest point of the marker and the road surface is not more than 2.5m,
      4. it, and any means by which it is fitted to the projection, impedes the view of the driver as little as possible, and
      5. it is clearly visible within a reasonable distance to a person using the road at the end of the vehicle from which the projection extends;
    3. where the forward projection exceeds 2m or the rearward projection exceeds 3m, one side marker shall be fitted on the right hand side and one on the left hand side of the projection so that -
      1. each marker is as near as is practicable in a longitudinal plane,
      2. no part extends beyond the end of the projection,
      3. the vertical distance between the lowest point of each marker and the surface of the road is not more than 2.5m,
      4. the horizontal distance between each marker and the end marker or, as the case may be, the rear marking carried in accordance with the Lighting Regulations does not exceed 1m, and
      5. each marker is clearly visible within a reasonable distance to a person using the road on that side of the projection;
    4. where -
      1. a forward projection exceeds 4.5m, or
      2. a rearward projection exceeds 5m
      extra side markers shall be fitted on either side of the projection so that thehorizontal distance between the extreme projecting point of the vehicle fromwhich the projection extends and the nearest point on any side marker from thatpoint, and between the nearest points of any adjacent side markers on the sameside does not exceed -
      - 2.5m in the case of a forward projection, or
      - 3.5m in the case of a rearward projection.
      For the purposes of this sub-paragraph the expression "the vehicle" shall notinclude any special appliance or apparatus or any part thereof which is aforward projection or a rearward projection within the meaning of regulation 81.
    5. the extra side markers required by this sub-paragraph shall also meet the requirements of (i), (iii) and (v) of sub-paragraph (c);
    6. every marker fitted in accordance with this paragraph shall be kept clean and unobscured and between sunrise and sunset be illuminated by a lamp which renders it readily visible from a reasonable distance and which is so shielded that its light, except as reflected from the marker, is not visible to other persons using the road.

    Marking of shorter projections

  4. A projection to which this paragraph applies shall be rendered clearly visible to other persons using the road within a reasonable distance, in the case of a forward projection, from the front thereof or, in the case of a rearward projection, from the rear thereof and, in either case, from either side thereof.

    (Marking of wide loads omitted)

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Produced by Trevor Chambers  for the Rowing Service, 1996